Damaged olive trees (Archive)
Photo: AFP
Palestinian residents of the West Bank village of Awarta claimed Sunday that settlers from nearby Yitzhar set fire to hundreds of their olive trees, causing massive damage to the livelihood of many of the villagers.
However police claim the source of the fire is as yet unclear. "The Palestinians complained of a brushfire in the area. The cause remains unclear, but an investigation has been launched," an official statement said.
Settler Vengeance
Ynet reporters
Leftist politicians slam West Bank rampage; settler leader: Leftists ignoring attack on Jewish boy
Awad added that the settlers had started the fire in an area that Palestinians cannot enter due to security restrictions, thus preventing them from putting out the flames.
The council head said that a preliminary assessment of the damages had concluded that the fire damaged the livelihood of dozens of families, and that 12-17 acres of trees had been destroyed.
Awad believes security forces are not adequately quelling the threat posed by the settlers, claiming that the IDF appeared at times to be taking orders from them, even while they acted violently towards the Palestinian residents.
"We believe the soldiers and officers work for the settlers and take orders from them, so there is no chance they would try to prevent the fire, even if they knew about it head of time," he said.
"Our land was on fire, and we couldn't even put out the flames or offer any help," Awad added, referring to the fact that the land is part of a "security ring" created by the IDF in order to protect the settlers, and requires farmers to present special permits in order to enter the area.
Last week B'tselem published a report claiming that Israel has confiscated hundreds of acres of Palestinian land in the West Bank in order to provide settlers with the protective rings, effectively preventing many Palestinian farmers from accessing their fields.